, 1887-04-28
THE STREETS OF MEXICO.

The Dudes and the LadIes-A California
T~error-Showy Costumes.
At certain hours of the day and in
certain portions of the more ~fashionably
f~requented streets the way is lined with
u variety of sidewalk statues, who, for
smartness of attire and vapidity of coun-
tenance, will compare not u~nfavorably
with the glorious American dude. They
are known among the discerning
Mexicans-who are masters of the art of
terse and graphic classification with re-
gard to salient points-as lagartijos, or
lizards, from the tenacity with which
they hug the walls along the narrow
sidewalks, while they ogle the ladies
going to or from church or the promen-
ndes. These "lizards'' have an amiable
habit of making, with the utmost com
posure, in a perfectly audible voice,
highly complimentary observations con
corning such members of the fair sex as
may be fortunate enough to meet with
their critical appreciation. '.S~weetnessi''
What a dear darlingi'' How l love
you precious blondel' Come here,
pretty thing, and kiss mel'' Such are
more of the refined and chivalric modes
of address practiced by these young-and
not always young-dandies.
Also, if they can muster a few words
of English, they are fond of delivering
them for the benefit of women of foreign
appearance-at Ii severe penalty, as will
be seen. These amenities are called, in
the expressive language of the country,
Throwing flowers" The manikins
really mean no offense by the habit, but
rather consider it a delicate attention and
a tribute due to the presumptive charm
of the fair, the custom being another dis
agreeable relic surviving from the OBJ
~jectionable phases of the Spanish regime.
The usage is, happily, l%essening, and no
doubt will soon be obsolete.
1t is curious and characteristic to OBJ
serve how differently the habit is regarded
by the ladies of different nations. The
Spanish women resident in Mexico COM
plain that these %gallantries are not sufii-
GENTLY pronounced, and declare that
Mexican men are cold blooded reptiles,
perfect sticks" in short, with the very
tamest ideas as to making their atten-
ions impressive and acceptable to ladies';
the Mexican women endure the imperti-
nences as an affection, offensive and
lowering to their dignity, but one which
they are impotent to avoid, thanks to the
submissive attitude of femininity in the
country. American women in Mexico
often do not understand enough Spanish
to know Ii import of these speeches, but
when they do understand it, it goes
hard with the offender. He is sure to re-
ceive some token of resentment, If only a
scowl.
Two cases are on recor of irate dam
sels-one, it goes without saying, was u
strong minded Bostonian lass-who, in
the might of their righteous indignation
at what they deemed deliberate result,
laid across the faces of the culprits a sue
cession of vigorous whacks with a para
sol. But perhaps the most effective eS-
tinguisher is that employed by a Cali
fornia young lady. She knows Spanish
like a native, and when she hears obser-
vations from the handles directed toward
herself, she walksup to the nearest police
man, points out the delinquent and says:
'lt is against the police regulations to per-
init insult to foreigners. You will have
the goodness to take that man in charge"
And she stays near to see that the gend-
arme complies. She has made herself
considerable of a terror to the lagartijos,
and the Mexican ladies commend her
course, realizing that such treatment goes
far to correct the abuse. Pobres lagarti-
josl their type must be extinct ere many
years.
The streets of Mexico borrow much of
gayety, picturesqueness-yes, and of ele-
gance-from the rich charro suits, prop
erly a riding dress, but sometimes worn
when on foot. 1t comprises trousers
closed down the outer seams, with double
rows of large silver buttons linked to-
gether with chains; short roundabout
jackets, with elaborate silver clasps, and
broad hats braided and embroidered with
~siIvcc; snowy scrapes to be strapped be-
hind the saddle. Formerly the priest
hood was conspicuous on the streets of
Mexico. but they make little figure since
the enactment of the reform laws, one of
whose provisions forbids the wearing of
Clerical vc5tments on the public streets.
This prohibition is not rigidly carried out
in the interior, but it is enforced some
what vigorously in the capital. Most
priests wear a large wide cloak, which is
utticisntly distinctive, while it is not ex-
atrsiEtly clerical in usage, and therefore
does moi violate the law.
Some months ago the bishop of Roches-
ter ~(Episcopalian) visited Mexico, and
appearing on the streets in his robes of
office, he was accosted by a gendarme,
VIZ t'altfliuily but hIHlJ IllOTIlleu IlIl
that the public display of the lawn sleeves,
etc, was an infraction of the law, and
must be discontinued. His worship was
80 Disguised by the intimation that he
left at the end Of two days, instead Of re-
manning a fortnight, as he had contem-
plated. Not the least striking of the
street sights in this city is the naivete and
good faith with which people march to
the baths through the streets, carrying
towels, etc, frankly confessed in a shawl
strapped bundle; and a very pretty feature
is the return of the ladies from the banos
with loose flowing hair streaming over
the shawl or mantilla worn on uncere-
monious occasions.-Y. ii. Adds in San
Francisco Chronicle.
Queen Victoria's jubilee will be otfici-
ally celebrated in Canada the 21st of